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 15. MAHOMMED NAIB SHURREEF, KUZZILBAUSHE.
THE Kuzzilbaushes are a powerful tribe of Persians, who settled themselves in Caubul during the reigns of the Shauhs Naudir and Ahmed, in whose armies and courts they were enrolled, attaining high rank and consequence. They amount to twelve thousand men, the bulk of whom are soldiers, meerzas, secretaries, merchants, &c. The Kuzzilbaushe quarter is called Chundauwul, strongly fortified, and entirely distinct from the other divisions of Caubul. The Kuzzilbaushes are disliked as interlopers, and regarded with a jealous eye, as they usually keep on good terms with Dost Mahommed, whose mother was a daughter of their tribe, and likewise are detested for their religious faith. They are violent Sheeahs, and assert that Ali, the nephew of the prophet Mahomed, was his rightful successor, in opposition to the three first Caliphs, whom they call traitors and usurpers. The Afghauns, as Soonees, accept the three first Caliphs as the prophet’s lawful successors, and reject Ali. This difference in their religious tenets creates the bitterest feeling between the two sects, and leads to constant bloodshed. The Soonee regards the idolatrous Hindoo, or the European unbeliever, whom they do allow to be people of the Book, with much less aversion than he does the hated Sheeah.
As late as May, 1847, the Ameer, having suspicious of the good faith of the Kuzzilbaushes, threatened them with expulsion from Caubul, and an attack on their stronghold, at the same time ordering (in consequence of his distrust) certain sums to be deducted from their pay. The result of these proceedings was a pitched battle between them and the Caubulees, in which some eighty men were killed and wounded. Two of the Ameer’s sons took part against the Sheeahs, and beheaded several with their own hands.
The Kuzzilbaushes are fickle and changeable in politics. Keeping close at home in the event of a revolution, they take neither part in battle until the result may well be conjectured, and then they side with the strongest. They are a handsome people, polished and graceful in their manners, but said to be cruel, treacherous, vain, and cowardly. I have seen instances of these traits in their character. However, one virtue at least they possess―profuse hospitality. Among their chiefs is Mahommed Naib Shurreef (the holy deputy of Mahomed), who has always stood the firm friend of the British from 1831, when Sir Alexander Burnes, whom he then conducted from Peshawur to Caubul, made his journey to Bokhara, up to the date of our final evacuation of Afghaunistaun in 1842. He compromised himself so much with us, during our palmy days at Caubul, again during the massacre, and also when we regained the country in the last campaign, that he was constantly threatened with death. Indeed, one devoted act of his alone would have ensured his destruction. He rescued the dishonoured corpse of his poor friend, Sir Alexander Burnes, from the hands of the infuriated fanatics, and carrying it away in the dead of night, bestowed on it a decent burial. Leaving his adopted country with our armies, he is now in the enjoyment of a handsome stipend for his services, as a pensioner of the Indian Government. He well keeps up the character that Burnes gave him in the days of their travelling together, of being “a very good fellow, and though but a young man, he had realized, as a merchant, a fortune, which he now enjoyed in hunting and hawking with a cup of good sack.” When the Naib sat to me at Sir Alexander’s house in 1841, he was anxious to be taken as much as possible like a European. So seating himself in a chair, he exchanged his turban for my forage cap and throwing his flowing drapery on one side, displayed as fully as he could his ample “Paijaumahs” (trousers). I dissuaded him from donning the regimental head-piece, and must now apologise for the spread of the under garment; for it is considered a great breach of etiquette to display any part of the leg or foot, the sitter always concealing them with the most scrupulous care under the skirts of the cloak or tunic. Our friend was fond of raw English brandy, a three-bottle man; a quantity which I was told he imbibed without inconvenience. He approved highly of English theatricals, at which he was invited to be present by the 13th Light Infantry, who performed in the cantonments, Caubul. In return he gave us specimens of the Afghaun drama, not very refined. We had also wine and dinner parties, followed by dances and music, at his chateau in town, fêtes champêtres under his magnificent willow tree at his country seat.
This catering to the tastes of the Feringhees plunged our host oftentimes into dangers, for the Caubulees frequently attempted to waylay and murder him. When we met him on horseback in the Caubul streets, followed by his armed retinue, he would salute us with “One cheer more,” “Egg flip and the ladies,” “Hip, hip, hoorah,” and perhaps varied these expressions by a certain fashionable English oath. He is here represented in the loose figured muslin dress usually worn by the Caubul gentlemen during the summer over the “Cameese,” or shirt, without the addition of the chintz cloak, which our friend wore over it. He has a handsome countenance, marked features, and a varying expression. His eyes were generally tinged with “Soormah,” and his long beard stained red, the holy colour; but whether the Khaun could lay claim to the title of sanctity (his name expected), as well as good-fellowship. I am doubtful. His “Peishkhidmut” (personal attendant) waits ready with the “Auftauber” (water-pot) and ewer. He wears the cap of black lambskin, the national head-dress of Persia (Iraun); though the opening at the top peeps the red lining, forming a tongue, from which the term Kuzzilbaushe, or red cap, is derived.
Since going to press, I much regret to see that the Delhi Gazette of February 20th, 1848, announces the death of our faithful friend. Thinking, however, that the following brief and graphic description of him may give additional interest to his portrait, I lose no time in appending it to this narrative.
“At Peshawur, on the 21st December, very deeply regretted, Naib Mahommed Shurreef, the Kuzzilbaushe, one of the few staunch supporters from first to last of British interests in Afghaunistaun, and first known as the friend and companion of the late Sir A. Burnes on his visit to Caubul in 1831. During our occupation of that city, he was extensively employed by the Commissariat, and his house and table were ever open to all officers; from the Envoy to the youngest Ensign, at different times, all partook of his hospitality, which was as open as day: in those times he lived freely indulging in the forbidden juice of the grape, but, for some years before his death, had forsworn it, and, as he said ‘taba kurred.’ On the breaking out of the insurrection, he was one of the first who rallied round the late Captain Trevor ; and the writer of this brief tribute to his memory has reason to believe that, had his advice been taken, far otherwise would have been the result of that at first petty outbreak. He never ceased, during the two months the troops held the cantonments, to assist the force in every possible way, advancing large sums of money from his private purse, and at much personal risk kept up communication with the captives, sending them clothes and money. From him emanated the scheme of their release, for which another took all the credit and reaped the benefit. The writer is convinced that there is not one of the survivors among the captives but will read this notice with deep regret.” [Naib Mahommed Shurreef, for his eminent services, enjoyed a pension of 400 Rs. a month from Government, which it is hoped may be continued to his family.―. ED. Delhi Gazette.]
[Keywords]
Khalifa/ surma/ aftaba/ Muhammad Nayib Sharif/ Qizilbash/ Kabul/ Shah Nadir/ mirza/ Chandawal/ Sunni/ Hindu/ Shi‘i/ Kabuli/ Peshawar/ payjama/ Farangi/ qamis |
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